Interior Designers Salary
Interior Designers in Iowa make a median of $58,040 a year, or about $27.9 an hour. The range runs from $40K at the entry level to $119K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 88.86), which stretches that salary to about $65,316 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,064/month, or 27.9% of estimated take-home pay.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Iowa. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $58K get you in Iowa?
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What this looks like in Iowa
Pay for interior designers in Iowa runs about 14% below the U.S. median of $67K. Rent runs $1,064/month for a 2-bedroom (HUD FMR), taking 27.9% of the median take-home. That's within the 30% rule, though not by much. Regional Price Parity sits at 88.86 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 11% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. Use the affordability calculator above to model your specific situation.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Iowa
Entry-level interior designers (10th percentile) start around $40K. Mid-career wages sit at $58K. Top earners bring in $119K or more, a $79K spread from bottom to top.
Interior Designers salary by metro in Iowa
5 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Waterloo-Cedar Falls | $59K | +2% | 40 |
| Iowa City | $59K | +1% | 50 |
| Des Moines-West Des Moines | $58K | -0% | 190 |
| Davenport-Moline-Rock Island | $52K | -10% | 40 |
| Cedar Rapids | $50K | -13% | 50 |
Compare to other states
Track interior designers salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Iowa numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a interior designer afford a 2BR apartment alone in Iowa?
Yes — at the median salary of $58K, rent takes 27.9% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,064/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for interior designers in Iowa?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new interior designers typically earn — is $40K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,371/month. At HUD’s $1,064/month FMR, rent would take 45% of that take-home — above the 30% guideline, so a 1-bedroom or shared housing is likely necessary starting out.
Is interior designer a high-paying job in Iowa?
Local pay runs 14% below the national median — $58K here vs. $67K nationally. Cost of living is 11% below the national average, which narrows that gap in real purchasing power.
How does Iowa compare to the national average for interior designers?
Iowa pays $58K median vs. the U.S. average of $67K — that’s -14%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 88.86), the purchasing-power equivalent is $65K — below the national median.
How much do interior designers make in Iowa?
The median is $58,040 a year, that works out to about $28 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $39,510, and experienced interior designers can clear $118,770. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $58K enough to live in Iowa?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $3,816/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,064/month, which eats 27.9% of your paycheck. That's under the 30% guideline most financial planners use, so the numbers work.
How far does a interior designers salary go in Iowa?
Iowa has a Regional Price Parity of 88.86 (100 is the national average). That's below average, your money stretches further here than the raw salary number suggests. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median interior designers salary is worth about $65,316 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do interior designers get paid the most?
The table above ranks every state by median pay for this role. Keep in mind that the highest-paying states tend to have the highest costs of living, so the top salary doesn't always mean the most money in your pocket.